Endoscopy questions?

do i have to swallow the tube myself during endoscopy? wat happen if i cant swallow the tube by myself? (cos i cant even swallow a tablet) will it be painful?

i had one done 5 yrs ago the give me a jab on my arm and i know it when they put in the tube after that i cant remember the back part. i felt them pushing the tube down my throat i was chocking and i feel like i was going to die

The doctor will numb you throat first with some spray. Then they will give you some medication in your iv that will relax and partially sedate you. The doctor will place a protective bite plate in your mouth so you don't bite on the tube, he will then place the tube in your mouth and ask you to swallow. The medication they use to relax you makes you forget the procedure and you're pretty out of it so it's not bad at all.

You can have this test as an out patient. Most people have a choice between having the test while they are awake, or after having a medicine to make them drowsy (a sedative). Your hospital may not be happy for you to have a sedative if you live alone and will have no one to look after you when you go home. If you live alone but really want sedation, your hospital may allow you to stay overnight. You should ask your doctor about this as early as possible, as extra arrangements will need to be made beforehand.

If you don't have a sedative, you will have a spray to numb the back of your throat and make it easier for you to swallow the endoscopy tube.

If you would prefer to be asleep during the test, you will have an injection to make you very drowsy just before the test. You will need to take someone with you to the hospital appointment. You won't be able to drive for the rest of the day and should have someone to go home with you.

You can't eat or drink for about 8 hours before the test so that your stomach and duodenum are empty. Your doctor will give you written instructions about this beforehand, or they may arrive with your appointment letter. When you get to the clinic, you may be asked to take your upper clothing off and put on a hospital gown. Some hospitals prefer to use gowns because your clothes won't get messy. Once you are ready, you get onto the bed or X-ray couch. When you are lying comfortably you have the sedative injection to make you very drowsy. Or your doctor will spray the back of your throat to numb it.

Once the sedative or throat spray has worked, the doctor will pass the endoscope tube down your throat to the area being investigated. Your doctor will ask you to swallow as the tube goes down, but if you've had a sedative, you won't remember that afterwards. If there are any abnormalities, the doctor will take pieces of tissue from the abnormal looking area to send to the laboratory for closer inspection under a microscope. These tissue samples are called biopsies.

When the test is over you will need to rest for a while. If you've had a sedative, you may not remember much (if anything) about the test once you have come round. You should be able to go home the same day.